FuelCell Energy Adds Cybersecurity and Industrial Operations Executive John Livingston to Board
FuelCell Energy Adds Cybersecurity and Industrial Operations Executive John Livingston to Board
Publish Date: 2026-05-21 10:27:00
Source Domain: www.citybiz.co
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
John Livingston
FuelCell Energy has appointed cybersecurity entrepreneur and former McKinsey executive John Livingston to its board of directors as the company expands its focus on infrastructure-grade power systems for data centers, utilities, and AI-driven computing operations.
The appointment comes as energy infrastructure providers increasingly confront the operational overlap between distributed power generation, industrial automation, and cybersecurity risk. FuelCell Energy said Livingston’s background in operational technology security and industrial systems aligns closely with growing demand for resilient, behind-the-meter power solutions supporting digital infrastructure and high-density computing environments.
Livingston officially joined the board May 19.
FuelCell Energy has been positioning its fuel cell systems as continuous on-site power infrastructure for mission-critical applications, particularly as data center operators and hyperscale computing companies search for alternatives to strained utility grids and long interconnection timelines.
The company’s systems generate electricity directly at the point of use, a model that has gained renewed attention amid rising AI-related power demand and concerns around grid reliability, transmission bottlenecks, and backup generation capacity.
CEO Jason Few said Livingston’s experience across industrial operations, strategy, and cybersecurity would support the company as energy infrastructure becomes more digitally interconnected and operationally complex.
Livingston founded Verve Industrial Protection, an operational technology cybersecurity company focused on protecting critical infrastructure environments. The business was later acquired by Rockwell Automation, one of the largest industrial automation and digital transformation companies globally.
That operational technology experience is increasingly relevant for power infrastructure providers. Modern energy systems now integrate a growing mix of digital control systems, building automation platforms, substations, battery storage assets, chillers, and distributed generation equipment — all of which expand the cyberattack surface for critical infrastructure operators.
FuelCell Energy specifically highlighted the relevance of Livingston’s experience for working with data center operators, AI infrastructure firms, and hyperscalers managing increasingly interconnected facility operations.
The appointment also reflects a broader industry shift as power generation companies increasingly compete not only on energy output and emissions performance, but also on operational resilience, grid independence, and infrastructure reliability.
FuelCell Energy’s modular fuel cell systems are designed to provide continuous baseload power for industrial facilities, utilities, and distributed energy applications. Unlike intermittent renewable sources, fuel cells can operate continuously while reducing reliance on traditional centralized grid infrastructure.
The company has increasingly emphasized data centers and AI infrastructure as target growth markets. Rapid expansion of AI workloads has intensified pressure on utilities and infrastructure developers as hyperscale computing facilities require significantly higher and more consistent power densities than traditional cloud infrastructure.
Livingston spent more than 20 years at McKinsey & Co., where he advised industrial and infrastructure clients on operational transformation, advanced manufacturing, and technology strategy.
In a statement, Livingston described FuelCell Energy as well-positioned to capitalize on demand for reliable behind-the-meter power tied to the AI economy and digital infrastructure expansion.
Based in Danbury, Connecticut, FuelCell Energy develops utility-scale fuel cell systems used in distributed power generation applications worldwide. The company said global deployments of its fuel cell systems are approaching one gigawatt.
